I don’t quite know what I was expecting to find here. Part of me picked coming to Detroit in order to rebel against the norm—the droves of people flocking to exotic destinations or hugely popular metropolitan regions in the United States. I wanted to show people that their talent, drive, and passion could be directed to improving a city at home that needs it desperately. I very stupidly thought I’d find a place devoid of excitement, direction, beauty, and quite frankly, hope. Upon arriving to Detroit, however, I have and continue to become more and more humbled by and aware of the actual situation—Detroit doesn’t NEED us. Rather, we are lucky just to be here to witness the miraculous revival that this city is on the brink of. The people who live in Detroit don’t just inhabit the space; they live, breathe, and emanate Detroit. I’ve never met a group of people that are more proud of where they live. They revel in their history, their struggles, their reality, and their hopes and dreams for a very bright future. Detroit is at the forefront of an innovative and entrepreneurial revolution. The innovators that we are lucky to meet, learn about, and/or work with are some of the brightest minds in the country who have come together to herald in this revival. Some are returning home. Some are coming to be a part of what will be one of the most dramatic positive transformations of a city in the history of this country. They are doing an amazing job. We came to Detroit with an outsider’s perspective and a unique vantage point, and I’ve learned that the best way for us to help is to integrate ourselves and our alien mindsets into the path of passion and innovation that has already been forged. It’s our job to use our vantage point to join in a shared vision that is already so powerful. If I can walk away from this experience with even an ounce of the passion, conviction, and direction that Detroiters have, I’ll feel blessed. Of course, we have only been exposed to a very small part of this giant city. On our bus tour, we saw everything from blight and abandoned mansions to world-class medical research centers and art, such as the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Heidelberg Project. A walking assignment at my office, Detroit Future City, to examine, document, and analyze vacant lots in four neighborhoods throughout Midtown, Corktown, and Downtown showed me the stark juxtaposition between Downtown, which is filled nearly to capacity, and the surrounding neighborhoods, which were my first real on-the-ground look at residential Detroit life and which were spotted with vacant lots of all types, shapes, and sizes. On our scavenger hunt through Downtown Detroit, we traversed into some of the most luxurious hotels, delicious-smelling restaurants, and chic stores I’ve ever seen, all while passing heart-stoppingly magnificent buildings such as Comerica Park, the Detroit Athletic Club, the Detroit Opera House, and let’s face it, the entire financial district. Downtown is peppered with beautiful statues and works of art that uniquely and inherently represent the city’s culture of resilience, strength, and fortitude. This city is diverse, powerful, and paradoxical, and there’s still a lot to see, but one unifying sentiment rings true throughout every building, street, and brownfield. A change is coming. I think I can contribute to it, and I’m so lucky to be a small part of it. I’m so excited to experience the small adventures that I hope will ultimately make this an incredibly transformative and positive life experience.

Divya, I'm thrilled that you too are feeling the presence of the miraculous revival taking place. Detroit really is a special place and you have done a great job painting a picture of variety of things that we have seen so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing all that you learn and accomplish this summer!